Automatic flushing device



F. BROWN AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 23. 1926 Patented Nov. 8, 1927 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-.

FOSKETT BROWN, OFNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

AUTOMATIC FLUSVEING nnvicn.

' Application fil d October 23, 1926. Serial no. am;

This invention relates to automatic flushing devices and has for its object a device of this'character having no moving parts, except a float control valve for regulating the flow of ater to the flushing tank.

According to this invention the device comprises a flushing tank, a siphon for supplying Water from theflushing tank to the bowl to be flushed, an air lock for normally rendering the siphon inoperative, an air lock release normally sealed by water and means for removing the water from the air lock release to permit the siphon to become operative. The means for removing the water from the air lock release is controlled by the depth of waste Water in the discharge pipe from the bowl. The discharge pipe from the bowl leads'into a compression chamber from which a pipe or tube leads to the air loc'lr' release. Accumulation of waterin the chamber compresses'the air in the tube With the result that the sealing Water is forced. out of the air lock release thereby permitting the siphon to become operative and causing water to flow from the flushing tank to the bowl" A second siphon leads from the compression chamber, and is so arranged that it becomes operative to drain out the compression chamber after a predetermined head has been reached in the discharge pipe.

During theflushing operation the level of the water in the flushing; tank is lowered suflicientlyto break the siphon and the air lock release is again sealed withwater. The breaking of the siphon stops the flow of flushing water and the tank is refilled up to a level determined by the float valve, theairlock being reestablished. V

The flushing operation is controlled by the level of the Waste water inthe discharge pipe from the bowl andthe flushing operation takes place automatically. There are no moving parts connected With the flushing control mechanism, the release of the flushing Water being accomplished by the QStELb. lishmentof a siphonthrough the release of air normally preventing siphoning. Qtl en obg ects, novel teaturegandadvantages of this inventionwill be apparent ffrom'f the follovvmg specification and accompanymgfdrawlng, wherein the single figure verticalsection' through an apparatus em;

bodying the invention.

In the drawing, 1 represents a bowl to be flushed and 2 isa pipe by means'of Which Water is supplied from the flushing tank 3' to the bowl 1. -.-From the bottomof,

the. bowl l 'afdiscliarge pipe 4' leads -to' a compression chamber 5,"lthe discharge pipe 4 terminating 'at a distance above the bottom r of the tank5. A siphon 6 leads'trom the tank 5 at a pointflovver than the end of the dischargcpipe f I L I i In the flushing'ltank is I arranged anair lookwhieh comprises an inverted cup'shapeld member 7 havinganinner cylindrical art1t1on8 of greaterilength than" the outer Wall'oit" the member 7. Between the: outer Wall of the member? and the partitionf 8 is arranged a cylifndrica1v member 9 extending,

from the bottom or theitank' at Withinthe partition 8 is provided altubularfmember 10 extending from 'the bottoinbf tlie tan'lr 13v above theupper edge of the member 9 and communicating With a "spout 11 ;pro eaing; into a chamber 12 directly'ben-eath the flush; ing tank 3. tube 13 isarranged between: the partition 8' and thegmember 9 and tor-1 1 minates at a point ab ovef theupper edge of the member; 10 1 and Iejxt ends: t'hroiigh the:

bottom of the tank 3 to a point "near the bottom of thechamberlZWhere itassuines" a horizontal'position, From the, topfof the compression chamher f) a tube lt' rises to a, height approximating the top of the member 10 and th-enis returned through an aperture in the Wall of the chambenlQ to" connect.

with thehorizontal portion of the {tube 13... From the horizontal portion of tlietubej extendsa riser 15in position to'receive Water from. the spout 1l,-- Avalve, 16 operated by the float 17,controls*t;he floivjofwater'to' flushing tank 3. e

The drawing shows the device readyfor operation. The end otthefsiphon 61in the; chamber 5 is sealed by residual ,liquidjjfrom he .P 1 s..fi sh e Ai i r ped in is the air lock 7 and the air lock release tube 13 is sealed with water from the preceding flushing operation, the riser 15 being filled and the level in the vertical portion of the tube 13 being dependent upon the compression of the air in the air lock 7. The operation is as follows: Waste water is introduced into the bowl 1 and discharged through the pipe 4 into the compression chamber 5. As the waste liquid accumulates in the compression chamber it forces air through the tube 14 thereby displacing the sealing water in the tube 12 and riser 15. When the head in the compression chamber and discharge pipe exceeds the head in the air lock release tube all the Water is forced out through the riser 15 thereby permitting the flow of air through the airlock release tube 13 to the atmosphere. Because of the head of water in the flushing tank 3, the water in the air lock displaces the air through the tube 13 until the water flows over the edge of the member 10 thereby forming a siphon. The water flowing through the siphon refills the riser 15 and fiowsonthrough the pipe 2 fiushing the bowl 1 and completely filling the compressionch amber 5. -When the level of the water in the discharge tube 4 has exceeded the height ofthe bend in the siphon 6 the latter becomes operative; and drains out the chamber 5. The flow of water through the siphon in the flushing tank 3 lowers the level of the water in the tank until it drops below the outer edge of the air lock thereby permitting air to flow in and break the siphon. In the meantime the valve 16 has been opened by operation of the float. 17 so that water flows therethrough into the tank.- As the air lock release tube 15 has been refilled with water, air cannot escape from the air lock and there can be no further flow through the siphon 10. The tank 3 therefore fills up until the valve 16 is closed by the float 17. The breaking of the siphon 6 is accomplished when the level of the water in the compression chamber 5 drops below the end of the siphon 6. There will, however, be sufficient residual liquid to seal the end of the siphon to make it ready for the next flushing operation.

It will thus be seen that the automatic flushing is accomplished Without the use of any moving parts, thereby rendering the operation very simple and preventing its getting out of order. Furthermore, the device is of simple construction and easy of manufacture.

What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: i

. 1. An automatic flushing device, comprisf ing a bowl, a discharge line therefor including a-trap, a flushing tank, a siphon for delivering fluid from said tank for flushing thebowl, an air lock normallysealed with fluid and rendering said siphon inoperative and means for automatically releasing the air lock when the liquid in the discharge line reaches a predetermined level.

2. An automatic flushing device comprising a bowl, a discharge line therefor including a trap, a flushing tank, a siphon for delivering liquid from said flushing tank to flush said bowl, an air lock sealed with fluid and rendering said siphon inoperative, an air lock release normally sealed with liquid and means for removing the liquid from the air lock release when the liquid in the dischar e line reaches a predetermined level.

3. An automatic flushing device comprising a bowl, a discharge line therefor including a trap, a flushing tank, a siphon for delivering liquid from said flushing tank to flush said bowl, an air lock Sealed with fluid and rendering said siphon inoperative, an air lock release normally sealed with liquid and comprising a U-tube having one end positioned to receive liquid discharged through the siphon and means for removing the liquid from the U-tube when the liquid in the discharge line reaches a predetermined level.

4. An automatic flushing device comprising a bowl, a discharge line therefor including a trap, a flushing tank, a siphon for delivering liquid from said flushing tank to flush said bowl, an air lock sealed with fluid and rendering said siphon inoperative. an air lock release normally sealed with liquid comprising aU-tube having one end positioned to receive liquid discharge through the siphon, an air tube leading from a low point of the discharge line to the bottom of said U-tube whereby liquid in the U-tube is forced out when the liquid in the discharge line reaches a predetermined level.

5. An automatic flushing device comprisinga bowl, a discharge line therefor including a trap, a flushing tank, a siphon for delivering liquid from said flushing tank to flush said bowl, an air lock sealed with fluid and rendering said siphon inoperative, an air lock release normally sealed with liquid, and an air tube leading from a low pointv in the discharge line to the air lock release, whereby change of level of liquid in the discharge line compresses the air in-the air tube to force out the sealing liquid from the air lock release.

6. An automatic flushing device comprising a bowl, a discharge pipe leading to a compression chamber, a siphon for draining said compression chamber, said siphon being normally sealed with residual liquid in said chambeiya flushing tank, a siphon for delivering liquid from said tank for flushing the bowl, an air lock sealed with fluid and rendering the flushing siphon inoperative and means responsive to the level of the liquid in said chamber for releasing said air lock.

7. An automatic flushing device comprisiii) llle:

ing abowl, discharge pipe leading to a compression chamber, asiphon"for draining said compression chamber, said siphon. be ing'norma lly sealed with residual liquid in said chambeig'a' flushing tank, a siphon for delivering liquid trom said tank for flush: ing the bowl, an air lock sealed with fluid andrend'eringthe flushing siphon inoperative, an air lock release normally sealed with liquid and means for removing the liquid from the air lock release when the liquid in the chamber reaches a predetermined level.

8. An automatic flushing device comprising a bowl, a discharge pipe leading to a compression chamber, a siphon for draining said compression chamber, said siphon being normally sealed with residual liquid in said chamber, a flushingtank, a siphon for delivering liquid from said tank for flushing the bowl, an air lock sealed with fluid and rendering the flushing siphon inoperative, an air lock release normally sealed with liquid and comprising a U-tube having one end positioned to receive water discharged through the flushing siphon and an air tube leading from the top of the compression chamber to the bottom of said U-tube.

9. An automatic flushing device comprising a bowl, a discharge pipe leading there from to a compression chamber, a siphon ior draining said compression chamber and normally sealed by residual liquid, a flushing tank, a discharge pipe therein for delivering liquid to flush said bowl, an inverted cup shaped member having an inner cylindrical partition surrounding said discharge pipe, a cylindrical member rising from the bottom of the tank and terminating between the outer wall of said cup shaped member and said partition, a U-tube having one end projecting into said cup shaped member between the partition and said cylindrical member and-the other end arranged below said discharge pipe and an air tube leading from said compression chamber to the vbottom of said U-tube.

10. An automatic flushing device comprising a bowl, a discharge pipe leading therefrom to a COIDPI'Q'iSiOIl chamber, a siphon for draining said compression chamber and normally sealed by residual liquid, a flushing tank, a discharge pipe therein for delivering liquid to flush said bowl, an inverted cup shaped member having an inner cylindrical partition surrounding said discharge pipe, a cylindrical member rising from the bottom of the tank and terminating between the outer wall of said cup shaped member and said partition, a U-tube having one end projecting into said cup shaped member between the partition and said cylindrical member and the other end arranged below said discharge pipe, an air tube leading from said compression chamber to the bottom of said U-tube, and a pipe for supplying liquid to "said tank and" a float controlledvalve'ior regulating the flow of fluid to said tank.

11. In. combination, a liquid container having an outlet provided withan'air trap subject to the head of liquid in saidv con tainer,a liquid supply/passage having an air trap and discharging into said container, a pipe leading tromone ofsaidtraps to the other and having a liquid seal subject to the pressure in said outlet air trap and provided with a vent, whereby the air trap 1n said passage is vented upon rise of liquid in said container.

12. In combination, a liquid container having an outlet provided with an air trap subject to the head of liquid in said container, a liquid supply passage having an air trap and discharging into said container, a pipe leading from one of said traps to theother and having a liquid seal subject to the pressure in said outlet air trap adapted to receive liquid from said supply, whereby the air trap of said passage is vented upon rise of liquid in said container and said seal is filled by liquid from said supply.

13. In combination, a liquid container having an outlet provided with an air trap subject to the head of liquidin said container, a liquid supply passage having an air trap normally sealed with liquid and discharging into said container, and means operated by compression of the air in said outlet air trap for venting the air trap of said liquid supply passage.

14. In combination, a liquid container having an outlet provided with an air trap, a liquid supply passage having an air trap normally sealed with liquid and discharging into said container, and means utilizing the air trapped in said outlet air trap for unlocking the air trap of said supply passage.

15. In a device 01 the character described, a container having an outlet provided with an air chamber, a liquid conducting'passage having an air chamber and discharging into said container and a pipe having a liquid seal provided with a vent and directly communicating at its ends respectively with said air chambers and being otherwise closed.

16. In a device of the character described, a container having an outlet provided with an air chamber, a liquid conducting passage having an air chamber and discharging into said container, and a pipe having a liquid seal provided with a vent and directly communicating at its ends respectively with said air chambers and being otherwise closed, the vent opening of said vent being in the path of liquid discharged from said supply.

17. An automatic'flushing device comprising a bowl, a discharge line therefor including an air trap, a flushing tank, a linefor delivering liquid from said tank to said bowl, said line including a siphon and an air lock normally sealed with liquid for rendering said siphon inoperative, and means for automatically releasing said air lock in response to pressure changes in said air trap.

18. An-automaticfiushing device comprising a'bowl, a discharge line therefor including an air trap, a flushing tank, a line for delivering fluid from said tank to said bowl, an an lock in said line normally sealed wlth FOSKETT BROWN. 

